Not all gardens are suitable environments for pets. Here are a few ways in which you can eliminate dangers to your pet, whilst also protecting your garden from your furry friends.
Fix up your fence
Broken fence panels could pose a danger, allowing your pet to escape. Whilst cats are usually safe to roam beyond the fence, you may not want your dog or rabbits escaping, especially when there could be roads the other side. Before bringing your pets home, hire a fence company to fix or replace any broken panels. You could even consider replacing your entire fence. Be wary that certain fencing may belong to a neighbor – you may be able to encourage them to fix it if it’s damaged, or you may have to get their permission to repair it yourself (you may have to end up paying for this if they’re not able to afford it).
Lock away garden tools
Dogs – especially puppies – are likely to get curious of garden tools, some of which could be dangerous if they contain blades. There may also be chemicals in tubs that could pose a danger. Make sure that these tools are locked away in a shed so that your pet can’t get to them.
Consider your plants
It’s worth also considering the types of plants in your garden. Certain plants can be poisonous to animals if ingested such as daffodil bulbs, azalea, hyacinth, tulips and rhubarb leaves. If these plants are in pots, you may be able to move them somewhere out of reach of your pets. If not you may have to consider removing them, or using some form of deterrent scent on them.
There could also be plants that you want to protect from your dog. Dogs, cats and rabbits may try to dig up vegetable patches, destroying your edible plants. Whilst you can always resort to growing plants in a greenhouse, there may be other ways to protect your plants without having to move them. Lemon rinds can often produce a scents that will deter your pets from wanting to go near your vegetables. You can also try laying manure infused with lion dung in the soil around the plants, or you can add a motion sensing sprinkler that sprays your cat or dog if it gets near. These solutions don’t always work but are worth trying.
Buy pet toys for your garden
Your garden can also be a place for your pets to play. Some pet toys are only made for household use and may decompose when left outside, however there are many toys that are weatherproof and could be left out there to provide stimulation. There are also specific garden toys out there such as tug toys on poles, pet paddling pools and outdoor cat towers. You can also buy runs for rabbits that restrict them to a certain space.